Swim or Surf Smarter: Cornwall Event Shows Real-Time Water Testing

Surf schools, swimmers, and tourism providers are being invited to a free event in Newquay next month to see a new technology that promises to revolutionise how water quality is tested — delivering results in just 15 minutes.

Free Event at Fistral Beach

The ‘Meet The Science of Bactiquick’ event takes place on 4th December 2025 at The Stable, Fistral Beach, Newquay from 9.30am to 11.30am. The event is open to surf schools, cold-water swimmers, councillors, community groups, paddleboarders, and those working in hospitality and tourism.

It will showcase Bactiquick Real Time Water Testing, a handheld device that provides instant water-quality readings, removing the 24–48 hour delay common with traditional testing methods.

“Everyone Deserves to Know the Water Quality Before Diving In”

Founder of Bactiquick Simon Jackson said:

“Everyone deserves to know the water quality before diving in. With reliable readings in just 15 minutes, communities can act swiftly and keep water users safe. We are changing water testing across the world with a world first innovation based in Devon and Cornwall.”

Why It Matters

Water pollution from untreated sewage, agricultural runoff, septic tanks and even wildlife can cause bacteria levels in rivers, lakes and seas to fluctuate rapidly. Many standard tests only measure limited bacteria types, such as E. coli or enterococci, and rely on lab analysis that comes too late.

Bactiquick detects a much wider range of bacteria, including pathogens like Salmonella, Leptospirosis and Vibrio, giving a more complete picture of water quality in real time.

The portable device is designed for on-site testing, allowing users to make immediate decisions about whether it’s safe to enter the water. Results can be logged via the Bactiquick App, capturing GPS data, timestamps and water-body information to build a live dataset of readings.

Event Highlights

Attendees can expect:

• Live demonstrations of Bactiquick testing on Fistral Beach

• A talk from Founder and Lead Scientist Simon Jackson

• Details on funding opportunities for community groups, surf schools, councils and tourism providers

• Exclusive discount offers via partners including Surfing England

• A chance to win a Bactiquick Starter Kit worth £335

Booking a free ticket also enters attendees into the prize draw for the starter kit on the day.

Free tickets are available via Eventbrite: Book here.

About Bactiquick

Bactiquick is the world’s first handheld device to deliver real-time water-quality results in just 15 minutes. Developed by scientists in partnership with the University of Plymouth and industry innovators, it provides rapid, on-site testing for rivers, seas and coastal waters, supporting better decision-making for water-based activities.

Learn more at www.bactiquick.com